The first month of the NHL season was a fun one for sure. It’s been a month of feeling out and teams figuring themselves out, but now we have a nice idea of each team’s ability and where they stand. There’s a lot of hockey left to be played though and surprises aren’t uncommon. That being said, let’s take a look at this last week and grade the teams on their performances.
Anaheim Ducks: A (Previous grade: B-)
The Ducks took Boston’s undefeated record last week. This week they gave Vegas their first regulation loss. I don’t know where this came from, but Anaheim has come with a statement to make and the rest of the league is starting to take notice.
Arizona Coyotes: C- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Coyotes are struggling to keep the momentum they had the first couple of weeks. They are starting to find themselves losing more often than not. There’s hope to be had though. This young core is coming together and the team has a bright future.
Boston Bruins: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
I implore you to find the Bruins’ biggest weakness. If you have Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swaymen as your goalie tandem then you’re already in a pretty good spot. Back that up with a roster that’s performing in every way you’d like it to, and you have a top contender.
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Buffalo Sabres: C (Previous grade: C+)
The Sabres are still struggling to find any consistent momentum, but the fact is that they are starting to look better. Hopefully the next coming weeks sees that trend continue and Buffalo finds the talent we know they have.
Calgary Flames: F (Previous grade: D-)
The Flames are a mess. They become more of a mess every single week. If the Sharks and Oilers didn’t exist they would be the worst team in the league right now. The saddest part is, where is the solution? They don’t have a long term coaching solution and I wouldn’t be surprised if players started wanting out.
Carolina Hurricanes: B- (Previous grade: C+)
The Hurricanes have yet to meet expectations this year, but they have still managed to look relatively okay for the most part. Looking mortal doesn’t make you a bad team and while they may not be winning a President’s Trophy this year, they can still make the playoffs.
Chicago Blackhawks: D (Previous grade: Unchanged)
They may have Bedard making highlight reels every time he goes out, but that doesn’t mean they’re winning games. This team still has a long ways to go before you can even consider them a playoff team.
Colorado Avalanche: A- (Previous grade: A+)
The Avs had a rough week. They got shut out twice by Pittsburgh and Buffalo, and then ended the week being blown out 7-0 by Vegas. If any team can bounce back from that it’s these guys though, but I bet they wish they had their captain right now.
Columbus Blue Jackets: C- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Columbus shows sparks of hope, then completely falls apart just as fast. That being said, they’ve competed in games they shouldn’t have competed in and they do appear to be taking steps forward. Their top guys aren’t producing enough though.
Dallas Stars: A+ (Previous grade: A)
This team is not only full of young guys, but it’s filled to the brim with talent. Jason Robertson might be one of the best players in the world right now, and with Jake Oettinger it’s not even a maybe. He is one of the best goalies in the world right now.
Detroit Red Wings: A- (Previous grade: B)
Detroit has slowed down, but they still look good. Ville Husso is playing with some of his old form and this team’s core has really seemed to come together. They find themselves right in the middle of the Atlantic Division’s top teams, but this is where the heat starts to come.
Edmonton Oilers: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
Not even Connor McDavid returning from injury was enough to save this team. The goalies are struggling to make saves and the defense is nonexistent. Top that with the fact that this team has no scoring outside their top 6, and teams can just easily game plan them.
Florida Panthers: C (Previous grade: D)
The Panthers have been better, but the top guys are just not giving them what they need right now. It’s made even worse by the fact that you just can’t guess what version of Bobvrosky is going to show up.
Los Angeles Kings: A (Previous grade: B-)
Cam Talbot is proving all of us wrong. This team is undefeated on the road and they have looked great. Anze Kopitar is showing that he still has it and the young guys like Adrian Kempe and Trevor Moore are producing as well. Trevor Lewis has fit right back in as well.
Minnesota Wild: D (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Wild have no identity and it’s becoming increasingly apparent with each passing week. Coasting off talent can only get you so far. You need a system and working chemistry and the Wild simply do not have that.
Montreal Canadiens: B (Previous grade: A)
No one expected the Habs to get off to the start that they have, but here we are. They slowed down this week for sure, but that doesn’t change the fact that they look completely improved from the last couple of seasons. Is it a permanent thing, or can we expect serious regression?
Nashville Predators: D- (Previous grade: D+)
The Predators are clinging on to a core that is aging and not producing. They are overworking Jusse Saros in the hopes that he can once again single handedly make them competitive in an ultra competitive Central division. Saros is playing well, but it’s not enough. This team is sinking.
New Jersey Devils: A (Previous grade: A-)
If you haven’t watched Jack Hughes play, do yourself a favor and sit down and do so. The kid is truly something special as is this team. This is the first real hope New Jersey has had in years as they truly are a Cup contender.
New York Islanders: A (Previous grade: A-)
The Islanders have an aging core. In fact, their team has one of the highest average ages in the league today. Yet they are still finding a way to win games and it’s through sheer teamwork and determination. That’s impressive.
New York Rangers: A+ (Previous grade: A)
A+’s have to be earned on this list and it’s safe to say the Rangers have earned those. Sitting on top of the Metro division, this team has come with something to prove this season. Hopefully they don’t blow themselves out and their best is still yet to come.
Ottawa Senators: D (Previous grade: C-)
The Senators are one of the fastest improving teams in the league, at least on paper. In practice, it seems like they still have no real direction. The talent is there. The core is there. They just need to figure out how to put it all together.
Philadelphia Flyers: D (Previous grade: B+)
After a hot start, the Flyers have now found themselves in a hole, having lost four of their last five games. Carter Hart is playing well in net and the rebuild is going in the right direction, but they aren’t there yet. The defensive holes still need to be addressed and they lack any real star power.
Pittsburgh Penguins: D- (Previous grade: Unchanged)
It’s almost sad to see what was such a mighty team reduced to this state. It’s been a gradual, painful process as their fans have watched it get worse season after season with no real attempts made to stop it. Now Pittsburgh is in a hole and the only real escape seems to be to rebuild.
San Jose Sharks: F (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Sharks still don’t have a win and it’s been a month. They also became the first team in NHL history to allow double digit goals in back to back games. This may be one of the worst teams to ever step on the ice in the NHL, and the statistics they have back that up.
Seattle Kraken: D+ (Previous grade: D)
The Kraken have looked better, but the holes in their team are still far too massive. The defense isn’t there and Grubauer has again reverted to his poor play. Seattle has to patch the leaks quickly or they’ll find themselves sunk once again.
St. Louis Blues: C+ (Previous grade: C-)
I expected the Blues to be one of the worst teams in the league this season. While they’ve avoided that with surprisingly decent play, it’s still becoming more apparent that they can’t keep up with the elites of the division.
Tampa Bay Lightning: B (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Lightning simply refuse to go away. They somehow just keep finding more in the tank to pull themselves up and win games. It’s not always pretty, but they’re winning and that’s what matters.
Toronto Maple Leafs: C (Previous grade: A-)
The Leafs have now lost three in a row. We’ve waited a month for the rest of this team to get going, but they still have no real production outside of their top guys. Auston Matthews is absolutely killing it this season (three hat tricks is crazy), but the rest of this squad has to step up and start playing hockey or this team is primed for another first round exit.
Vancouver Canucks: A (Previous grade: B+)
This is the best the Canucks have looked in years. The offense is clicking. The defense is solid. Thatcher Demko is playing exactly how you would want him to play. I think they might still be a year or so away from being a true Cup contender, but right now they are playing really good hockey.
Vegas Golden Knights: A+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The defending champs are the best team in the league right now. They suffered their first regulation loss at the hands of Anaheim, but that’s the only real blemish they had this week. They keep finding ways to win games, even if their play isn’t the best on that night.
Washington Capitals: C+ (Previous grade: Unchanged)
The Caps are simply trudging along. They’re not doing horrible, but they’re not doing spectacular either. They’re hanging in there which is to be admired given how declined they looked last season. Glad to see Ovechkin still has some left in the tank.
Winnipeg Jets: C+ (Previous grade: D-)
The start this team had was incredibly worrying. Hellebuyck didn’t look like himself and it seemed like the team was in a free fall. Now, they appear to be gathering their heads and settling in. They have work to do still though, the Central is no place to lollygag.
